Self-portraits are a notably rare aspect of Frank Auerbach’s oeuvre. Known primarily for his portraits of a small but dedicated group of sitters and his urban landscapes of the neighbourhood surrounding his home in North London, he had until recently only ever captured his own likeness a handful of times. He produced a total of just three self-portraits between the years 1958 and 1965, comprising of two drawings and one oil over charcoal on paper. It was not until 2001 that he turned to draw his reflection once more, and his first self-portrait in oil on board was not completed until a further two decades later in 2021.
This exhibition is the first devoted to Auerbach’s self-portraits and the first presentation of new work by the artist since 2015.